Devastating Impacts of Typhoon Bualoi: 11 Confirmed Dead in Vietnam

Fri Dec 05 2025 20:42:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Typhoon Bualoi has unleashed destruction across central and northern Vietnam, leading to significant fatalities and severe infrastructural damage. As recovery efforts commence, officials are urging caution as more heavy rains are expected.

Typhoon Bualoi has tragically resulted in at least 11 deaths in Vietnam, with numerous others reported missing or injured. The typhoon caused extensive damage, including destroyed homes and downed power lines, as it sweeps through the region. An estimated 30,000 people were evacuated in preparation for the storm, which has already claimed more than 20 lives in the Philippines. With heavy rainfall continuing, authorities are on high alert for further flooding and landslides.

Typhoon Bualoi has killed at least 11 people and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in the center and north of Vietnam, state media reported.

Dozens are missing or injured after the typhoon made landfall on Sunday night, flooding roads, washing away bridges and tearing roofs off buildings before weakening and moving into neighboring Laos.

Bualoi has already killed more than 20 people in the Philippines since Friday.

It's the latest storm to batter the region with powerful winds and rain. Last week, Super Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of 2025, killed at least 28 people in northern Philippines and Taiwan before making landfall in Hong Kong and China.

Typhoon Bualoi packed winds of 117km/h (73mph) when it made landfall in central Vietnam - though as it moved into Laos, its maximum wind speed weakened to 74km/h (46mph), as reported by Vietnam's weather agency.

Rescuers are searching for 17 fishermen who are among the missing after their boats were hit by huge waves. Nearly 30,000 people were evacuated in Vietnam in anticipation of the typhoon, local media reported.

Dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled over the weekend.

I stayed awake the whole night fearing the door would be pulled off by strong winds, a resident in Nghe An province told Reuters.

The central province of Ha Tinh was hit with a blackout after power lines were downed by the storm. Torrential rains also flooded crop fields.

The typhoon is expected to bring 200-350mm of rain in northern Vietnam between Sunday and Tuesday, with some areas potentially receiving up to 500mm.

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors. Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Minh Chinh has issued urgent instructions to step up rescue and relief efforts, as state media reported.

Last week, Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in southern China, where nearly two million people were evacuated. That typhoon also caused heavy flooding and landslides, resulting in 14 deaths in Taiwan after a barrier lake overflowed.

It left the same number of dead in the Philippines, with some officials stating the overall toll from Bualoi, Ragasa, and another tropical storm in September had risen to 26.

Climate change has exacerbated extreme weather, with typhoons becoming stronger and more frequent.